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Buried in Crown Heights—literally—this huge, mostly underground museum claims to be the world's oldest institution for children. (It was founded in 1899.) The family-friendly admissions price and heart-of-Brooklyn location attract a diverse crowd, and the programming, appropriately enough, is culturally savvy, emphasizing local and global communities, environmental awareness, natural history, and the arts. The clever, permanent exhibition “Together in the City” allows kids to pursue their fascination with the intricacies of everyday adult life. The permanent collection contains 27,000 cultural and natural science objects, plus a special section for children under five, Totally Tots, which includes building blocks, a sandbox, and a book nook. A major expansion scheduled for completion in 2007 promises to enhance the museum’s programming and double its size. Designed by superstar architect Rafael Viñoly (Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center in D.C., Bungalow 8 Lounge, the new addition will emphasize “high-performance” building technologies intended to minimize long-term impact on the environment. The new design will also include a gift shop and much-needed café. Until then, be sure to fill up on food before you come—the anemic vending machines won't satisfy hungry bellies, and eating options in the neighborhood are scarce. — Steffani Jemison

Budding biologists can grab an apron and garden tools to examine a rubber tree, a cocoa plant, and other flora.

Main Stage
Drama queens put on fancy costumes, primp in front of mirrors that make little bodies look twice as tall, and perform their masterpieces on a stage with interactive spotlights.

Make a Pizza
Let's the littlest New Yorkers get their hands dirty.

Totally Tots
The special section of the museum only for children under five opens before the Museum proper, at 11 a.m. 

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Best of New York Awards

• Best Children's Museum (2002)